- Day 1, Arrival: Temuco - Malalcahuello
Our guides will meet you at the Temuco Airport/Hotel and transfer you to Malalcahuello, where you can enjoy a soothing thermal bath at our five-star hotel and spa resort. Our guides will help you assemble/fit your bike and then you can enjoy a short warm-up ride. In the evening, we’ll have an orientation and briefing session. Meals: lunch and dinner.
- Day 2, Malalcahuello - Climb Pino Hachado (6,181 ft)
Ride: 50-64 miles/5,000 ftWe'll enjoy an easy spin on a incredibily quiet and scenic road alongside the Lonquimay and Bio Bio Rivers for 37 miles. After this warm-up, test your legs with a challenging 13-mile/4,000ft climb up Pino Hachado (6,181 ft) which is on the border of Chile and Argentina. At the top of the climb, we’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the Andes and five snow-capped volcanos. When you are back at the Hotel resort, enjoy a massage, spa or soak in the hot mineral pool.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. - Day 3, Malalcahuello - Pucón
Ride: 52 milesFrom the village of Malalcahuello, we’ll ride down valley and alongside the Cautín River, and descend through the foothills to Curacautín. As we leave town, we’ll begin climbing and enjoy beautiful views of Llaima, Lonquimay and Tolhuaca volcanos. Enjoy the pool, the spa or a massage at our four-star hotel in Pucón.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Pucón, located adjacent to Lake and Volcan Vilaricca is the Adventure Center of the Lakes and Volcano district of Chile. You will enjoy strolling the streets and having a cafe or ice cream at one of the numerous cafe's and restaurants of this outdoor mecca. - Day 4, Pucón - Loop Ride to Lake and Outdoor Hot Springs
Ride: 42-64 miles/2,700 ftFirst, we'll cycle up to Lake Caburgua and enjoy a snack alongside the scenic lake. Our guide will identify species of birds and trees for us as we ride through beautiful farmland with views of the majestic, snow-capped Villarrica Volcano (if we're lucky, we'll see smoke coming out of this active volcano).
Next enjoy a nice descent from the Lake before we turn off up another quiet and scenic valley on a small meandering road. At the end of this valley road, we'll stop at Huife Hot Springs for a soothing soak in a mineral bath pools and lunch. After your soak, you can ride or shuttle back to Pucón. The evening is yours to explore Pucón's shops, restaurants, bars and cafés. Our guides will be happy to offer recommendations. Meals: breakfast, lunch. - Day 5, Pucon to San Martin de los Andes via Mamuil Malal Pass
Ride: 42-75 miles/3,200-3,700 ft.Today you will enjoy cycling across the Andes via Mamuil Malal Pass (3,926 ft.) and through the incredible Lanin National Park. First we’ll warm up our legs spining alongside the Pucon river for 24 miles to Curarrehue, a small village where we can visit a museum and learn about the Mapuche, the area’s indigenous people. Next the road heads uphill for 13 miles to Mamuil Malal Pass. You will enjoy a nice picnic lunch alongside the river before making the Border Crossing into Argentina. At the border enjoy viewing the Araucaria "Monkey Puzzle trees" and the incredible views of Volcan Lanin (12,195 ft). After crossing the border enjoy a 35 mile mostly downhill ride to Junin de los Andes. Finish your day with a massage, spa or hot soak at our 4 star Hotel in San Martin.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. - Day 6, San Martin - Loop Ride--Famous Seven Lakes Route!
Ride: 66 miles/4,600 ftToday we'll ride the "route of the seven lakes," a well-known scenic road once traveled by Ernesto "Che" Guevara (lakes include Lacar, Espejo, Correntoso, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner and Machonico). Enjoy amazing lake views as our route passes by four of the seven lakes, and follows hilly terrain through the Andean-Patagonian forest. We will stop along the way to view and photograph the breathtaking Vullinaco waterfall. After a picnic lunch alongside Lake Falkner enjoy a fast return ride back to San Martin. Finish your day with a massage, spa or hot soak at our 4 star Hotel and enjoy a great meal at one of the numerous great restaurants in town. Meals: breakfast, lunch.
San Martín de los Andes is a charming mountain town nestled on the tip of Lago Lácar between high Andean peaks. The town is considered the tourism capital of the Neuquen province Swiss Alpine influence. There are numerous great restaurants, cafes. - Day 7, Argentinean Patagonia Steppe to Bariloche
Ride: 55-75 miles/2,000-2,700 ft.Today’s challenging route takes us across beautiful Argentinean Patagonia Steppe on a varied route that includes rolling hills, long flat stretches, and a great 4.4-mile climb. The terrain will differ from previous days as we enter the Pampas region, with grasslands and higher mountains with jagged rocks. We'll most likely see wildlife along our route such as guanacos (lamas), ñandus (large flightless birds, similar to ostriches), condors, and red deer. After a fantastic ride, we’ll arrive at our four star lakeside hotel. Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Bariloche, considered the “queen” of the Andean Lakes District is sometimes referred to as the "Aspen of South America". It’s scenically located on the south edge of Lake Nahuel Huapi, inside the National Park of the same name. Bariloche is a thriving winter ski destination and an adventure sports capital in summer. Bariloche has numerous great restaurants, cafes, chocolate and gelato stores where you can indulge yourself after cycling. - Day 8, Loop Ride- Circuito Chico and climbing Cerro Cathedral
Ride: 55 miles/3,500 ft.
Today you get to enjoy another of the most spectacular rides in Argentina,the world famous Circuito Chico, which provices for amazing views of Lake Nahuel Huapi and Lake Perito Moreno. After this loop ride you can challenge yourself on the on a 7.5 miles climb to Cerro Catedral which is the base of this popular ski resort. After a picnic lunch at the lake, we’ll return to our lakeside hotel and you can relax and enjoy a swim in either the pool/lake and soak in the spa. We recommend you explore the city of Bariloche, which is a great place for shopping and dining. - Day 9, Lake Nahuel Huapi-Circuito Grande
Ride: 50-77 miles/3,500 ftToday's route follows part of the famous Circuite Grande route alongside Lake Nahuel Huapi, a generally flat road with easy rolling sections. Some of the best views in the country can be seen from its beaches. We’ll check into our Lakeside four-star hotel and spa, and the evening is yours to explore the town, shop or take a dip in the hotel’s heated pool or spa. Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. - Day 10, Crossing the Andes back into Chile
Ride: 54 miles/4,150 ftToday you get to climb to the top of the Andes for the third time as our route takes us over Hito Samoré pass (4,255 ft), where we can enjoy an excellent views of two National Parks: Puyehue in Chile and Nahuel Huapi in Argentina. After a picnic lunch alongside a small lake, enjoy a thrilling 14 mile descent into Chile and transfer to our fantastic, five-star hotel and spa. Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. - Day 11, Ride thru German colonized towns along the shores of Lake Llanquihue
Ride: 55 milesToday we will cycle alongside Lake Llanquihue the largest lake in Chile. We will ride through rolling hills and beautiful beaches along the lake, with views of 4 volcanoes (Osorno, Puntiagudo, Casablanca and Puyehue). With the lake on one side, green pastures and fields on the other, and the snow-capped Andes in the distance, this will be another picturesque day on our bicycles. This region was strongly influenced by the colonization of German families over 150 years ago. German influence is visible at every step – names like Kaiserseehaus or Frau Holle can be seen everywhere and restaurants offer "Onces Alemanas" with apple strudel. A number of houses have signs saying they sell the yummy Kuchen (a type of big tart). Tonight enjoy another luxury five star hotel with fantastic views of the lake and Osorno Volcano and excellent spa facilites.
Meals: breakfast, lunch. - Day 12, Puerto Varas and the Osorno Volcano
Ride: 42-60 miles, with an optional climb
Our final day of riding offers some of the best scenery of the tour with great views of Lake Llanquihue and the Osorno Volcano that rises from the lakeshore. We'll ride through this astounding landscape on our way to the village of Ensenada and continue to Petrohue Falls, where we'll stop for a visit. We'll finish the day by relaxing at our four-star hotel and spa, and enjoy a farewell dinner at a wonderful seafood restaurant. Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Ride Option (7.3 miles/3,750 ft): For a real challenge, ride up the Osorno Volcano — one of the steepest climbs in South America, if not Europe! - Day 13, Departure
We'll say our good-byes to the beautiful Lake & Volcano District of Chile and Argentina over a final breakfast together and then transfer you to Puerto Montt Airport for flights back home, or you may choose to extend your stay in Chile.
Meals: breakfast.
